Posted: Sat 20th Mar 2021

Driving lessons to resume in Wales from April 12 – if conditions continue to improve

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 20th, 2021

First minister Mark Drakeford has said driving lessons could resume in Wales from April 12 with driving tests from April 22, if the Coronavirus situation continues to improve.

Driving lessons and all types of driving tests were suspended in Wales when the country moved to alert level 4 in December.

You cannot currently take driving lessons in Wales, people can however practise driving with members of your household or support bubble on local journeys.

During an online Q&A session on Friday, Mark Drakeford said: “I feel very much for people who work as driving instructors.”

“I know they’ve not always been well covered by the help that the UK Government has provided and the UK Government has provided a lot of help, let me say that.”

“We have used our money to try and fill the gaps in their programs, but I know that it hasn’t always worked well or easily for driving instructors who want to be back in work.”

The first minister said: “Today, the DVSA, the organisation that’s responsible for driving lessons and driving tests, has published their plan for the future.”

“Their plan is that the driving lessons could resume from April the 12th and driving tests could resume from April 22nd.”

“We will do now talk to the DVSA and we will talk to the bodies that represent our driving instructors.“

“If the public health position in Wales makes it safe to do so, then we will aim to follow the advice of the DVSA.”

“So that’s lesson starting from the 12th of April, tests from the 22nd of April, but it’s just really important I say this, it will depend on how things are closer to the time.”

Mr Drakeford said that at the moment in Wales things are going well, “the numbers of people falling ill with Coronavirus are going down, the percentage of people who go for tests who have Coronavirus is going down, as well.”

“The number of people in hospital with Coronavirus is falling every week, if we can keep that doing, when we come to the 12th April on 22nd April, we’ll be in a good place to fall in with the advice of the DVSA.”

“But if things go in the opposite direction, then of course we will have to think again.” He added.

Dates when driving lessons and tests can restart in Wales, if conditions continue to improve:

Activity Date
Car driving lessons 12 April at the earliest
Car driving tests 22 April at the earliest
Car and trailer training 12 April at the earliest
Car and trailer driving tests 12 April at the earliest
Motorcycle training 29 March at the earliest
Motorcycle tests 12 April at the earliest
Bus training 29 March at the earliest
Bus driving tests 29 March at the earliest
Lorry training 12 April at the earliest
Lorry driving tests 12 April at the earliest
Driver CPC part 4 (practical demonstration) tests 29 March at the earliest
Tractor and specialist vehicle training 29 March at the earliest
Tractor and specialist vehicle tests 29 March at the earliest
Driving instructor training 12 April at the earliest
Driving instructor qualifying tests 22 April at the earliest

[Image – Reddrivingschool.com]

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